Sealing mechanism



Oct. 17, 1950 F, FELDMElER 2,526,013

SEALING MECHANISM Filed May 2a, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 17, 1950 F.FELDMEIER SEALING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1947 U ZWZMOct. 17, 1950" F. FELDMEIER 2,526,013

SEALING MECHANISM Filed May 28, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 it 3" Q [NWT 2.77%?! hf E A/vK ELDME'IEB L? LE Oct. 17, 1950 F. FELDMEIER SEALINGMECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 28, 1947 [FIVEHTUF li'em/xFZ-LpME/ae in f.

QZ/ y Oct. 17, 1950' F. FELDMEIER SEALING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed May 28, 1947 dd 3 in Patented Oct. 17, 1950 SEALING MECHANISMFrank Feldmeier, Pittsburgh, .Pa., assignor to Blaw-Knox Company,Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 28, 1947,Serial No. 751,151

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in drum type drying apparatus forprinted sheet material, and more particularly to improvements in thegripping mechanism for gripping individual sheets of printed materialthat are held on the drum and carried partially around therewith duringthe drying operation.

In the particular type of apparatus with which this invention isconcerned, a rotary drum for conveying sheet material is mounted in themachine and is partially surrounded with drying chambers which containgases Which are employed to dr and harden the ink compositions on thesheet material, partially through chemical reaction with the inkcompositions. A particular use Of the invention resides in the drying ofdecalcomania sheets through the use of sulfur dichloride vapor. While ithas been found that this vapor is exceptionally effective in bringingabout a rapid drying and hardening of the compositions presently usedfor the manufacture of variously colored decalcomanias, yet it is alsofound that this vapor harmfully affects the paper backing on which thedecalcomanias are deposited. Consequently great care must be exercisedin the use of the process and apparatus for such vapor treating ofdecalcomanias to keep the sulfur dichloride vapor out of contact withthe paper. The present invention is concerned more especially with asheet gripping mechanism employed on the drum for holding the individualdecalcoinania sheets.

In the sheet gripping mechanism which is preferabl used, the individualgrippers are mounted in recesses in the drum surface, these recessesbeing preferably chambers having side, bottom and end walls, but open tothe periphery of the drum. In such a chamber two or more grippers may bemounted, and in order to grip sheets of different width at appropriateintervals it is desirable to have the individual gripping membersadjustable longitudinally of this chamber.

However, if grippers of the type herein disclosed are employed andmounted for retraction within the drum and projection outside of theperiphery of the drum to grip the sheets, the clearance allowed fortheir rotative movement and longitudinal adjustment leaves a largeopening into the chamber through which the treating vapor couldfiowduring the rotation of the drum underneath the vapor chambers. Thusvapor entering into this portion of the apparatus might find its wayinto contact. with the paper backings of the decalcomanias and alsowould be discharged into the surrounding atmosphere after the grippingchambers have moved from under the vapor feeding chambers.

Accordingly this invention provides a gripping mechanism provided withmeans not only for gripping the individual sheets of paper, but also forsimultaneously sealing the gripping chambers during their passageunderneath the vapor treating chambers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet gripping mechanismretractible through an aperture into drum, together with means forsealing the aperture when the gripping mechanism has been projected intooperative position, and without interfering with the gripping function.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will bementionedhereinafter or will become apparent from a perusal of the specificationand drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a drum type drying apparatus in whichthe present invention is incorporated.

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view showing a portion of the gripping.and sealing mechanism as applied to the drum.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view showing the gripping and sealingmechanism in retracted position, but on the verge of being cammed intoprojected position.

Figure 4 is a partial sectional view showing the gripping and sealingmechanism justafter it has been moved intofully projected position.

Figure 5 is a detail View showing the sealing mechanism moved intosealing position just prior to the movement of the gripping mechanisminto full clamping position. i

Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the, apparatus showing thereleasing means for releasing the gripper and sealing mechanism.

Figure '7 is a view partially in section showing two successivepositions of the drum and the gripping and sealing mechanism in theprocess of being rotated out of projected position and after fullretraction.

While the present invention is adaptable to other machines andapparatus, it is especially well adapted for use on a drum drier fordrying printed sheets with the aid of vapors which accelerate the dryingand hardening of the printed compositions on such sheets. As an exampleof such an apparatus the drawings show a machine especially designed forthe drying of decalcomanias, wherein the sheets of papen bearing thedeoalcomania transfers, just freshly printed, are

fed to the drum, the individual sheets being individually gripped andcarried by the drum underneath the treating chambers which contain asuitable vapor, for example, sulfur dichloride.

Accordingly, in order to convey a full appreciation of the invention itwill be herein described as applied to a decalcomania drying machinewhich includes a drum Ill and vapor chambers in the form of boxes A, B,C and D, which extend both arcuately and longitudinally of the drum, asshown in Figure 1. While means is provided for supplying the sulfurdichloride vapor to these treatment chambers A, B, C and D, suchapparatus is not a part of the present invention and will not bedescribed in detail.

In a machine of this character a feed table II will be employed in thefeeding of the sheets to the drum, and suitable automatic mechanism, notshown or described herein, will at proper intervals feed the sheetssuccessively to the drum. It will be assumed that the sheets are fed insuch a manner that as the drum rotates a sheet such as I2 (see Fig. 3)will be brought to the drum at just the right time to be gripped by thegripping mechanism, as the latter is passing the feeding position.

It is obvious that the number of grippers installed on a drum may varyin accordance with factors such as the diameter of the drum and thelength and width of the sheets which are carried around the drum. In theapparatus shown in Figure 1, three sets of grippers are shown. It ispreferred that these sets of gripping devices be mounted for retractioninto chambers which extend longitudinally of the drum surface, andaccordingly such a chamber is shown partially in Figure 2 comprising aninside wall i3, side walls I4 and I5, and it will be understood that theends of each chamber are defined by the ends of the drum, one such end[6 being shown in Figure 2. As the gripping mechanisms do not need toextend the full length of the drum, although nearly so, there willremain a portion [1 of the drum surface at each end of each chamberwhich will constitute a part of the confines of the chamber.

Extending longitudinally through each gripper chamber is a shaft 18,carried in a suitable hub 19 or bearing which will be positioned in theend wall of the drum. Another similar bearing,

not shown, will, of course, support the other end of the rock shaft 3 atthe other end of the drum. Adjustably mounted on the rock shaft [8 bymeans of the clamps 26 are a plurality of gripping devices each of whichhas a hook shaped finger 2| which, upon suitable rotation of the rockshaft, will occupy the retracted position shown in Figure 3 or theprojected position as shown in Figure 4. In the projected position theclamping finger will grip the leading edge of sheet l2 and clamp itagainst the drum surface 22.

An arm 23 is keyed or otherwise suitably fixed to the rock shaft 18 andis pivotally connected to a toggle link 24, which ha a cylindricalportion 25 slidably extending through an apertured guide post 26 mountedon the end wall of the drum. A roller 21 is pivotally mounted on theside of the link 24 for cooperation with both the gripping and releasecams, hereinafter described. Likewise, the link 24 carries a projection28 which functions in the releasing of the gripping mechanism. A spring29 held under compression between the fixed collar or shoulder 3i! andthe slidable collar 3! serves to yieldably urge the link 24 toward theperiphery of the drum.

Mounted at one end of the drum upon a fixed collar 32 is a bracket 33carrying at its extremity a cam 34 which is located adjoining theposition where it is desired to actuate the gripping mechanism fromretracted to projected position. Accordingly, as the drum rotates andcauses the roller 21 to contact the cam 34, as indicated successively inFigures 3 and 4, the link 24 will first be retracted toward the centerof the drum sufficiently so that its inner end 25 will pass alongside ofa post 35 which projects toward the drum end wall 16 from bracket 33. Asindicated in Figures 3 and 4, this portion 25 of the link will lie belowthe post 35 at the time the roller reaches the end of the cam 34 and isabout to drop off the end of the cam, Accordingly, when the roller doesmove off the cam the toggle mechanism consisting of the link 24 and arm23 is able to move in only one direction, that is, in a direction torotate and project the grippers into clamping position. From this point,as the drum further rotates, the gripping mechanism will clamp theleading edge of the sheet to the drum to hold it until the releaseposition for the particular gripper has been reached.

Attention will now be called to the sealing mechanism supplied forsealing the elongated chamber in which the gripping mechanism ismounted. Part of the clamping mechanism for retaining the gripper on therock shaft I 8 is a bolt 36 which is additionally employed to clamp aresilient curved strip 31, which may be made of thin sheet metal orother suitable material, shaped as shown to embrace the gripper 2| anditself make edge contact with the sheet of paper. This resilient strip31 extends the entire length of the chamber which houses the grippingmechanism, and, together with another resilient sheet 38 similarlyclamped by the bolt 36 constitutes a sealing means for the peripheraldrum opening into the chamber.

It will be noted upon viewing Figure 3 that the sealing mechanismretracts wholly into the chamber just as does the gripping mechanism,and upon being projected the sheets 37 and 38 lie snugly and resilientlyagainst opposite longitudinal marginal portions of the chamber to make atight seal therewith.

A comparison of Figures 5 and 4 will reveal that the final portion ofthe projecting movement of the gripping mechanism is employed not onlyto clamp the gripping element upon the sheet of paper, but to press thesealing plates resiliently into contact with the surfaces with whichthey cooperate. It may be noted that the edge of the sheet 31 contactsthe paper sheet i2 3, little prior to the conclusion of the projectingmovement. Further movement into the final gripping position shown inFigure 4 increases the pressure on the resilient plates 37 and 38. Asthe spring 29 is relatively strong, the plates 31 and 38 afford littleopposition to the firm gripping of the sheet I2, but are themselvesdominated by spring 29.

Referring now to the releasing mechanism, as shown in Figures 6 and 7,when the individual sheets are carried around the drum past the last gastreating chamber D for delivery onto the discharge belt 39, as shown inFigure l, the roller 21 on the link 24 will encounter a cam 40 carriedupon a stationary bracket 4!, supported on stationary collar 32, and asthe roller 21 moves off the end of the cam 49 the projection 28 on thelink 24 will be at the same radial distance from the center of the drumas is a stop member 42 which is likewise fixedly carried by the bracket4!. the drum will cause the projection 28 to strike against the stopmember 42, which will break the o le joint and kick the outer end of thelink 24 rearwardly, that is, opposite to the direction of travel of thedrum, this movement causin the gripping mechanism and sealing mechanismto be retracted into the drum. This same movement of the link 24 causesit to be further projected outwardly from supporting post 26 and theprojection 28 will thus be free to pass outside the stop member 42 asthe drum continues its rotation. The sheet of paper, being thus releasedfrom the gripping mechanism, is free to be dis charged from the drum.

From the foregoing explanation it will be apparent that a sheet grippingmechanism of excellent characteristics is provided and arranged torotate into a chamber inside of the periphery of the drum, but thischamber, whenever passing under the gas treating chambers, is sealed bythe plates 37 and 38 which extend the entire length of the chamber.

It must be understood that the specification and drawings disclose apreferred embodiment of the gripping and sealing mechanism, but that theinvention is susceptible of considerable change and modification withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a rotatable drum having a longitudinal aperturein its peripheral wall and a sheet gripping mechanism having a pluralityof spaced apart rigid gripping members retractable through said apertureinto the drum interior and projectable through said aperture into sheetgripping position, sealing means for said aperture comprising resilientsheet means carried by said gripping members having a con- Consequently,a little further movement of tinuous portion projectable through saidaperture along with the gripping members and embracing a plurality ofthe latter to bear resiliently upon a sheet gripped by the grippingmembers and having another continuous portion carried by the grippingmembers resiliently engageable with the inner marginal portion of theaperture to constitute with said first portion a seal for the aperturewhen the gripping members are in pro jected position.

2. In combination with a rotatable drum having a longitudinal aperturein its peripheral wall and a plurality of sheet gripping membersrotatably projectable outwardly through said aperture and retractableinto said aperture, flexible sheet-like sealing means mounted on saidgripping members having one continuous portion embracing the grippingmembers to contact a sheet upon said drum adjoining one margin of theaperture and outside of the gripping members and having anothercontinuous portion engageable with the opposite inner marginal portionof said aperture when the gripping members are projected, said sealingmeans being wholly retractable alon with the gripping members Within theaperture, the marginal portions of the sheet sealing means beingcontractable with the marginal portions of said aperture and with thesheet prior to the final rotative movement of the sheet gripping membersinto its gripping position.

FRANK FELDMEIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 25,874 Babcock Oct. 25, 1859316,351 Floyd Apr. 21, 1885 1,177,933 Dausman Apr. 4, 1916

